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Benedict Cumberbatch Joins Guillermo del Toro's 'Crimson Peak'

One of the most talked-about films of the year – and our most anticipated of 2013 – is Star Trek Into Darkness. However, in addition to reining in piles of box office dollars, the film is largely expected to launch Benedict Cumberbatch as a bonafide movie star.

Cumberbatch is already well-known for his work as the title character on TV's Sherlock and has appeared in numerous films over the years. However, his mysterious Trek villain has already been the subject of much discussion, and his dual voice roles in the upcoming sequels to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey should only help build on the inevitable success of Into Darkness.

Now Variety reports Cumberbatch has joined another high-profile project with Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak. The haunted house film has already added Emma Stone and Charlie Hunnam (who will also appear in del Toro's Pacific Rim this summer) to its cast. Del Toro and playwright Lucinda Coxon are currently rewriting the Crimson Peak script.

Details on the film remain scant, but del Toro has described it as a throwback to the Gothic haunted house films of the past - combining romance and a ghost story into one cohesive narrative. The closest del Toro has come to directing a full-on ghost story is the 2001 Mexican production The Devil's Backbone. That film – which follows a young boy living at a haunted orphanage – may be an indication of the atmosphere and eerie imagery that the filmmaker may be aiming for with Crimson Peak.

Given the mysterious nature of the project, it is currently unknown what role Cumberbatch will play. The actor is best known for playing a detached but likable hero on Sherlock, but with his Into Darkness role creating buzz, don't be surprised if he ends up as the film's villain.

Are you excited to see Cumberbatch take part in a ghost story, and would you prefer he play a hero or villain? Let us know in the comments section below.

Crimson Peak is scheduled to begin shooting in February 2014. Stay tuned to Screen Rant for the latest on the film.